As of December 2017, there were approximately 1.2 million international students studying abroad in the United States. Out of those 1.2 million international students, about 17% of them are from India. Over time, the amount of Indian international students in the United States has risen, as many Indian students come to the United States to receive a higher education in a STEM field. However, Indian international students need to be careful what school(s) they choose to apply to, and ultimately, attend. Some schools in the United States are known as “India farms”, meaning that they admit a high volume of Indian students compared to the rest of the schools and universities in the United States. While it may seem great that you may be admitted into a United States university, it may negatively impact your chance of receiving a United States visa.
How do These Schools Become Popular?
These schools and universities know that Indian international students want to study abroad in the United States. They accept and admit a high volume of Indian international students based on their admission requirements, which are adjusted to fit the profiles of many Indian international students. Since so many Indian international students are accepted and admitted, those students tell their other friends who want to study abroad in the United States to apply to that school. This is especially true for potential Indian international students from the Hyderabad region. Since these schools and universities admit so many Indian international students so easily, they gain a reputation in both India and the United States.
What are the Downsides of Attending One of These Popular Schools?
While the reputation these schools may have in India is positive, it is quite the opposite in the United States. United States consulates will see your admittance to one of these popular Indian universities, and frown upon it. Please be aware that visa officers know these schools well, and you may not receive visa approval because of your attendance at one of these schools. Since you would be one of several thousand Indiana students at the particular school, visa officers are less likely to approve your visa since they do not want to approve too many visas for one school.
Overall, the main point of an Indian international student studying abroad in the United States is to i) get a job in your desired field, and ii) get a visa to stay in the United States (if so desired). While a friend may tell you that it is easy to get into a certain university, that does not mean that attending that school will help you meet either of the goals listed above. If you choose to attend one of these schools, you would be one of several thousand Indian students at that school. That means that the chances of you standing out, based on your grades or other criteria, are extremely slim.
Although it may be easy to fall into the trap of one of these popular schools, it is just as easy to avoid it. There are over 5,000 colleges and universities in the United States, and with hard work and a good profile, you can have a chance of getting into any of them. Also, if a visa officer sees that you applied to and got accepted into multiple schools, that can also help your chances of getting your visa approved.
Let Nomad Credit Help You with Admissions
Applications to United States universities can be extremely stressful and difficult. Nomad Credit can help you determine a potential fit for you based on our your profile. Paid services that we provide include profile evaluation, statement of purpose essay editing and revision, and visa training. Please don’t hesitate to email us at girish@nomadcredit.com if you have any questions.
